Re: How can i set up a complex/advanced microbiology home lab?

Well I'll be the first to admit that setting up a home lab was something 
that never occurred to me.  Mainly because most scientific equipment in my 
experience is very cost prohibitive.  However if you do have access to 
plenty of funds there is a LOT you can do with a home lab.
 
The first thing I would recommend however would be to contact certain 
scientific suppliers.  www.fischersci.com is probably the best place to 
start in my mind.  That's mainly because they can supply most of the basic 
equipment such as flasks, plates, glassware, media, and basic reagents you 
will need.  They also have tons of great safety equipment that you'll HAVE 
to get in order to make your place compliant with any regulation laws for 
labs in your area.  From the sounds of it you're not going to be working 
with anything overtly hazardous but keep in mind some chemicals used in 
common procedures can be caustic or toxic and may be regulated in your 
area.  I'm not too sure of the regulations in the UK but I would 
definitely check up on that as well.

Now then, as for home experiments there are literally tons of things you 
can do.  It all depends on your interests and what your scientific 
inclination is.  From the sounds of it you're looking at fresh water 
organisms (the water flea comment)so to aim you in the right direction I'd 
encourage you to get and read a Limnology textbook.  A good one can be 
found here http://www.springerlink.com/app/home/journal.asp?
wasp=g27hwjvuym2mld6ugxuq&referrer=parent&backto=linkingpublicationresults,
id:101782,1.  That alone should give you lots of ideas to think about and 
possibly formulate experiments on.  Really when it comes to experiments in 
general you only have 2 things that can hold you back.  1) The cost of 
certain equipment and 2) Your imagination.
 
 
When it comes to microscopy and resolution of small things I'd check out 
this page:  http://nsm1.fullerton.edu/~skarl/EM/Microscopy/Resolution.html.  It’s a 
nice summary, but it IS a bit math heavy.  From personal experience 
however I've been able to resolve objects about 1.2 microns across with a 
light microscope.  Not in great detail mind you, but I can distinguish 
them.
 
Finally when it comes to testing blood, DNA, proteins and such I'd check 
with the regulations in your area first and foremost.  Most places would 
frown upon a "private" lab looking at blood samples in general without the 
proper paperwork.  Again I'm not familiar with your area so I would 
encourage you to look into that.  DNA on the other hand can easily be 
tested and examined with the proper equipment.  Again however we enter the 
cost prohibitive area of science.  Fischer has good stuff for working with 
DAN and proteins but none of it is cheap.  There are many other scientific 
suppliers out there as well so shopping around is a great idea.  ALWAYS 
hunt for the best price if you can.
 
So in summary I'd do the following things first.
1) Check the local regulations for a lab in your area.  This would include 
hazardous material regulation, animal testing regulation (if you move from 
microbes to something else), and general standards you'd have to meet.
 
2) Hit the books for experimental ideas.  The Limnology text is just a 
place to start.  From there you can contact your local Limnology Society 
and they can give you hordes of information. http://aslo.org/index.html is 
the link for the American Society for Limnology and Oceanography.  They 
work extensively with people in the UK as well and can be a great contact 
for ideas and as a general resource.
 
3) Check prices on gear and equipment.  Fischer Scientific is a place to 
start but you can easily branch out from there and find suppliers that 
will get you the same equipment at a MUCH better price.  I'd encourage you 
to get some experimental ideas first before shopping just so you know what 
would be best to buy, and so you won't wind up with a ton of expensive 
stuff that sits in the back of the garage collecting dust.
 
4) When it comes to microscopes, you get what you pay for.  Keep that in 
mind above all else.  This will easily be the most expensive piece of 
equipment you will buy so look carefully at resolutions, light sources, 
magnifications, and other options you may need.
 
5)  When it comes to chemistry, blood, DNA, proteins, and such I'd again 
recommend that you look at local regulations first and see what can be 
done with minimal fuss.  Then go back to #2 and start there for 
experimental ideas!
 
Anyway, I hope this helps and I wish you happy hunting/experimenting!  
Good Luck!!
 
--->Erik